The National Water and Sewage Authority is currently preparing a significant reduction in all water consumption sectors due to the continuing water crisis.

In addition, we will mention that based on water expert estimates, this will be one of the most difficult summers experienced by the country and that by the summer of 2010, 4 major water desalination plants will be operating and producing 350 million cubic meters of water (250 million cubic meters every year from the plants and other local expanses in accordance with the current need).

In accordance with Water Authority instructions, as of 1.5, the new regulations regarding public gardening will go into effect. Every authority is allotted water for public gardening based on the authority's reports for all public landscaping spaces, lawns and other gardening.
This year, every authority will be allocated only 50% of the total allocation for full irrigation due to the water crisis. Should water resources further decline, the Water Authority can further 'cut back' this allocation.

The Water Authority recently published a 'black' list of all authorities that have yet to report the amount of irrigation spaces in their jurisdiction for allocation of water for irrigation. Authorities that do not submit the report on irrigation spaces face heavy fines.

The CDC has already prepared itself and has dramatically lowered the amount of irrigation of public spaces. If to date the CDC used between 600-800 cubes per dunam of lawn per year, this amount has been reduced to 200 cubes. The designated quota for space based on the 50% reduction key is 220-250 cubic meters / dunam.

Most types of lawn in Israel are those whose foliage will yellow if irrigation is reduced but the roots continue to live. If given large amounts of water, either through rain or irrigation - the dried out lawn will return to its previous lush, green state.

It is currently unclear what the regulation for private irrigation will be. At the same time, the regulations regarding exceptional water consumption - such as those who use unreasonable quantities of water - will cause water prices to hover around NIS 13/cubic meter. A rate that will lead to periodic water bills of thousands of NIS. It is therefore recommended to check all the entire irrigation system in private yards and consult with a local gardener regarding possible rationing.

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